Translator: CinderTL
"What is it?" Mi He asked.
Song Wen replied, "I wish to purchase some Spirit-Devouring Grass from your sect, preferably on a long-term basis."
He had originally planned to obtain the Spirit-Devouring Grass through Rong Jingyun. However, since he had unexpectedly encountered Mi He, he decided to try his luck with her first.
"Spirit-Devouring Grass?" A mocking smile curled Mi He's lips. "Yin Shuo, the Focused Spirit Stab you traded me last time was utterly useless. The Spirit Herbs required to refine Earth Spirit Pills, Heaven Spirit Pills, and Saintly Spirit Pills are simply impossible to gather in the current Immortal Cultivation World. Not even substitutes can be found. Why would I ever trade with you again?"
Song Wen countered, "That matter was not my fault. Those three pills are ancient formulas, and it's only natural that the Spirit Herbs needed for their refinement are difficult to find."
"Smooth-tongued as ever," Mi He said, clearly still harboring resentment over the Focused Spirit Stab incident. "Yin Shuo, no matter how eloquently you spin your tale, I will not trade you any Spirit-Devouring Grass."
Song Wen pressed on, "At the Divine Blood Hall, I repeatedly assisted Fellow Daoist Yang Yu. Would Mi He consider granting this trade out of respect for your sect's Fellow Daoist Yang Yu?"
When Mi He heard the words "Divine Blood Hall," a flicker of gloom flashed across her eyes, but she quickly concealed it.
"Yin Shuo, you and I have crossed swords before. Your strength is not to be underestimated; as a Nascent Soul cultivator at the early stage, you can unleash the combat power of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. However, to claim you repeatedly helped Yang Yu is perhaps a bit boastful, wouldn't you say?"
From Mi He's words, Song Wen immediately sensed that she knew very little about what had transpired within the Divine Blood Hall.
It seems Yang Yu didn't tell Mi He everything that happened there, Song Wen thought to himself.
Considering the fleeting gloom in Mi He's eyes and her direct use of Yang Yu's name, Song Wen realized their relationship was strained.
Mi He clearly harbored resentment toward Yang Yu.
It made sense. Yang Yu possessed two Fourth-Tier Peak Spirit Beasts, while Mi He had only one Fourth-Tier mid-stage Windscale Beast. Anyone in her position would feel resentful.
This realization gave Song Wen an opening to persuade Mi He to agree to the Spirit-Devouring Grass trade.
"The Divine Blood Hall truly lives up to its name as the main hall of the Divine Blood Gate, overflowing with countless treasures. It's a pity, Fellow Daoist, that you couldn't be there in person. You missed a golden opportunity."
As Song Wen spoke, a look of confusion crossed his face. He asked, "Fellow Daoist Mi He, I recall you obtained a Bronze Key Coffin from the Lei Family. Why didn't you enter the Divine Blood Hall?"
The veiled gloom in Mi He's eyes, which had just been concealed, resurfaced, this time without any pretense.
"It seems Fellow Daoist Yin Shuo obtained quite a few treasures in the Divine Blood Hall," Mi He said, her tone slightly hostile.
"My cultivation is too low. How could I have a share of the truly valuable treasures? However..."
At this point, Song Wen suddenly raised his hand and waved it. A soundproof barrier materialized out of thin air, enveloping him and Mi He. Only then did he continue, "In the Divine Blood Hall, there was a pill called the 'Soul Destroying Demon Pill.' It's said to help Nascent Soul cultivators break through minor cultivation bottlenecks. Fellow Daoist Yang Yu of your sect obtained one."
Mi He's interest was clearly piqued. She quickly pressed, "Is this true? Does the Divine Blood Hall truly possess such miraculous pills?"
"Absolutely true. Not a word of it is false," Song Wen replied.
A sharp glint flashed in Mi He's eyes as she murmured to herself.
"No wonder Fellow Daoist Yang Yu has been in closed-door cultivation since returning to the sect. He must be taking the pill to break through to the peak of the Nascent Soul stage."
After a moment of contemplation, Mi He fixed her gaze on Song Wen and said, "Yin Shuo, I accept your offer. I will provide you with twenty stalks of Spirit-Devouring Grass each year."
Song Wen's expression brightened slightly. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist. May I ask what conditions you have?"
Mi He replied, "I have no conditions."
"Why?" Song Wen asked, greatly puzzled.
Mi He said, "Consider it a gesture of goodwill. If I ever need your help in the future, I hope you won't hesitate to lend a hand."
Song Wen replied, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. I will never forget this kindness."
Mi He nodded, then had Song Wen remove the soundproof barrier and left with Rong Jingyun.
As for the Spirit-Devouring Grass, Mi He didn't have any on hand. She would send someone to deliver the grass to the Asura Sect's Tiancang Mountain.
After leaving the Flame Earth Cave, Song Wen returned directly to Qingluo Mountain to focus on cultivation.
Events that followed confirmed Lan Chen's words: the Profound Yin Sect had not attacked him or the Asura Sect.
Only the Mixed Yuan Temple was engaging in minor underhanded tactics, targeting subordinate families and industries of the Asura Sect. However, Hui Neng occasionally provided advance intelligence, allowing the Asura Sect to disrupt the Mixed Yuan Temple's operations several times. As a result, the Mixed Yuan Temple gained little advantage and even suffered some casualties.
Gradually, the frequency of the Mixed Yuan Temple's underhanded tactics decreased significantly.
Although the conflict between the Mixed Yuan Temple and the Asura Sect continued, it had little impact on Song Wen. He devoted most of his time and energy to cultivation.
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, the ten-year deadline agreed upon by Xue Mei, Lan Chen, and others was approaching.
One day, Song Wen suddenly received a message from Yu Wen.
Sect Leader, Senior Xue Mei has arrived and wishes to see you.
Song Wen's expression brightened. He had been worried about not being able to find Xue Mei's whereabouts, and now she had come to him of her own accord.
Chief Yu, please tell Fellow Daoist Xue Mei to wait a moment. I will be there shortly.
After sending the message to Yu Wen, Song Wen left Qingluo Mountain and hurried to Tiancang Mountain.
Not long after, he met Xue Mei in the main hall of the Asura Sect.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Song Wen asked, "Fellow Daoist Xue Mei, may I ask why you have come today?"
Xue Mei waved her hand and tossed out a jade slip.
"I trouble you, Fellow Daoist, to help me purchase some Spirit Herbs."
Song Wen caught the jade slip and probed it with his Divine Sense.
The jade slip contained a list of fifteen Spirit Herbs. While not particularly precious, they were quite rare.
Gathering these Spirit Herbs on her own would likely take Xue Mei a considerable amount of time.
However, having the Asura Sect collect them would be much easier.
"This is a trivial matter. I guarantee these Spirit Herbs will be in your hands within a month," Song Wen said.
"Thank you," Xue Mei bowed and continued, "Ji Yin, are you proficient in alchemy?"
Song Wen replied, "Proficient is an overstatement. I have a basic understanding."
A hint of joy flashed across Xue Mei's face. "In a year, I hope you will assist me in refining the Soul Destroying Demon Pill."
Upon hearing this, Song Wen immediately understood.
The Spirit Herbs mentioned in the jade slip were likely the remaining ingredients needed to refine the Soul Destroying Demon Pill.
To prevent the pill formula from leaking, Xue Mei hadn't asked Lan Chen and the others to gather all the Spirit Herbs. Instead, she had divided the formula into three parts.
The most precious and rare Spirit Herbs were collected by Lan Chen and the others.
Xue Mei herself had likely secretly gathered a portion of the herbs.
The remaining portion consisted of the Spirit Herbs listed in the jade slip.
Song Wen's expression turned hesitant. "Fellow Daoist Xue Mei, refining the Soul Destroying Demon Pill must be incredibly difficult. I fear I may not be able to succeed."
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (RDC) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c1024. [+2]
🔑Early Access at $5.
✍Translated (6) Series, (3.6K+) Chapters, (5.1M+) Words.